Broad Coalitions Are Urged To Solve Urban School Crisis

Special to the New York Times

Published: March 23, 1989

SANTA MONICA, Calif., March 22—
After studying school systems in six cities, researchers at the Rand Corporation say that the problems of failing urban schools are too severe to be solved by ''the educational bureacracy'' and can be overcome only by communitywide efforts.

In their report, ''Educational Progress: Cities Mobilize to Improve Their Schools,'' the researchers also conclude that offering parents a choice of schools is unnecessary, that strong teachers unions or associations are essential and that educators must yield some of their influence to business leaders and other community groups.

In what researchers call the most important finding, the report suggests that ''the problems are too severe and intertwined - and entangled with broader community social and economic events - to be solved by the educational bureaucracy.''

In St. Louis, where the report was released this month, Joyce Thomas, president of the school board, said, ''This looks like something of a map for change.''

The report was prepared by Paul T. Hill, a Rand senior social scientist; Arthur E. Wise, director of Rand's Center for the Study of the Teaching Profession, and Leslie Shapiro, a research associate. Rand is a private, nonprofit research group based in Santa Monica.

In the 1987-88 school year, the researchers conducted interviews at six school systems that have reportedly improved in recent years: those of Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Atlanta, Miami, Memphis and San Diego.

Like urban school districts everywhere, the systems have faced the problems of sheer size, reduced funds, labor strikes, white flight to the suburbs and impoverished students, the report says.

But they are overcoming the problems, primarily through coalitions of leaders from business, politics and education, the study says.

''In these cities, business C.E.O.'s rolled up their sleeves to negotiate with teachers and community groups,'' Mr. Hill said of the chief executive officers. ''The same business and civic coalitions that can redevelop downtown can turn around the schools.''

Copies of the report can be obtained for $4 from the Rand Publications Department, P.O. Box 2138, Santa Monica, Calif., 90406-2138.